Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 16, 2020
First Reading: 1 Samuel 4.1c-11
1And Samuel's word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek.2The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield.3When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."4So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.5When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.6Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,7the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before.8Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.9Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!"10So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.11The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Psalm 44
1We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.2With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish.3It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.4You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.5Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.6I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;7but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.8In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. Selah9But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies.10You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us.11You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.12You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.13You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us.14You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.15My disgrace is before me all day long, and my face is covered with shame16at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.17All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant.18Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.19But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals and covered us over with deep darkness.20If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,21would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?22Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.23Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.24Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?25We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.26Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love.
Gospel: Mark 1.40-45
40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:44"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on the essence of faith and our response to God's presence in our lives. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the Israelites' defeat by the Philistines, despite bringing the Ark of the Covenant into their camp. This sacred symbol, meant to embody God's presence, could not alter their fate, highlighting that mere symbols of faith, without genuine trust and devotion, are insufficient. The second reading from Mark presents a leper who, with humble faith, asks Jesus for healing. Jesus, moved by compassion, heals him and instructs him to remain silent. Yet, the leper, overwhelmed with gratitude, spreads the news widely, illustrating the transformative power of faith and the natural impulse to share God's grace.
These readings interconnect by contrasting outward symbols with inward faith. The Israelites relied on the Ark, a physical representation of God's presence, yet lacked the deeper trust needed for true victory. Conversely, the leper's faith was not in a symbol but in Jesus' power, leading to his healing and enthusiastic witness. This teaches us that faith is not merely about rituals or objects but about a genuine relationship with God, prompting us to act and share His love.
In our daily lives, this means that while traditions and symbols can enrich our faith, they must be accompanied by heartfelt trust and obedience. When we experience God's grace, like the leper, we are compelled to share it, even when it challenges us to step out of our comfort zones. The moral lesson here is that true faith transcends symbols, requiring us to trust God and live out our faith actively, sharing His love with others as a testament to His transformative power.